Oleksandr Shovkovskyi confirmed his squad's readiness for tomorrow's Champions League third qualifying round match against "Paphos" of Cyprus, noting that most players will be available for selection.
Shovkovskyi, the head coach of "Dynamo Kyiv", provided an update on his team's condition during the pre-match press conference. The Ukrainian tactician made it clear that only two players would miss the important European fixture.
"We can count on almost all players, except for Torres and Rubchynskyi. Everyone else is preparing for the game. We'll decide who's in what condition directly on match day," – stated the Dynamo coach.
The team recently completed a challenging domestic match in Rivne, adding to their busy schedule. Despite this, Shovkovskyi emphasized that his squad doesn't distinguish between primary and secondary objectives.
"We don't separate priorities. We prepared with the expectation of playing in a tight schedule, taking into account logistical aspects," – he explained.
By the way, the ongoing war in Ukraine creates significant logistical challenges for the team. The coach acknowledged these difficulties but maintained a positive outlook.
"Playing every two or three days would be much easier without the logistical issues we face due to the war in our country," Shovkovskyi noted. "But these are today's realities, and we must be ready for them. And we are ready."
When asked about the potential Champions League playoff draw, the coach kept his focus firmly on the immediate challenge. "We need to prepare, and the main thing is what's happening now and in the coming days," he insisted.
The match between "Dynamo Kyiv" and "Paphos" kicks off tomorrow, August 5, at 21:00. Can the Ukrainian side secure an advantage in the first leg? The answer will come soon enough on the pitch.
